Abell honored during 'State of Our County' address

Abell's hard work praised

Photos by ERIN McCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS
Dr. Thomas VonderHaar tells County Commissioner, Marsha Abell, she should seek higher office following the “State of the County” address during Tuesday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Evansville at Tropicana Executive Conference Center. Abell, who has served in both city and county governments since 1992, will step out of the politics when her current term ends in December. She was defeated by Bruce Ungetheim in the May 6 Republican primary. Abell received a standing ovation from those in the room who thanked her for her service.

ERIN McCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS
County Commissioners Joe Kiefer, Marsha Abell and Steve Melcher answer questions following the “State of the County” address during Tuesday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Evansville at Tropicana Executive Conference Center.

John Beard, honorary Rotarian, asks Marsha Abell how the current projects on Oak Hill Road and North Green River Road in Northern Vanderburgh County will affect drivers this summer and what alternative routes will help alleviate traffic congestion following the “State of the County” address. Abell told the Rotarians that there are 33 repair projects to county roads starting in 2014.

"I don't know who's worked harder in city and county government," said Commissioner Steve Melcher said during the 45-minute presentation during a meeting of the Rotary Club of Evansville.

Abell, a Republican who has held an elected office in the city or county governments since 1992, lost to challenger Bruce Ungethiem in the May 6 Republican primary election.

Speaking after the meeting, Abell said she intends to remain a Realtor when her tenure ends at the end of the year, after serving just one term as commissioner.

All three members of the county's executive governing body spoke during the "State of Our County" address, staying upbeat while updating Rotarians on ongoing road repairs and renovations to county-owned buildings.

In a six-minute presentation, Abell underlined ongoing road and bridge projects in the county, most notably the multimillion dollar North Green River Road construction project that left noticeable dips in the road.

"We cannot afford to have that road closed down," she said.

The county sued to have the contractor repair the road, and repairs should begin in the coming weeks, she said. Tuesday evening, commissioners chose Kaskaskia Engineering Group to oversee the repair work, which is being done by Blankenberger Brothers, Inc.

"It wasn't done right the first time; I don't have any hope that it would just be done right the second time without someone watching it," Abell said.

In April, the county selected 33 road repair projects to focus on for 2014, with materials alone costing $433,000.

A rough winter marred county roads and strained the county highway department, which Abell said saw 1,338 work orders in 2013, the highest on record. However, 2014 is on pace to break that record, with 1,000 work orders for the highway department since Jan. 1, Abell said.

Joe Kiefer, president of the three-member commission, opened the presentation.

"I think we're in pretty good health, but we're obviously not so rich we can spend frivolously," Kiefer said. The Vanderburgh County Council in October cut $4 million from the county's 2014 general fund in anticipation that tax revenues will drop significantly this year.

Kiefer highlighted ongoing renovations to the Old Courthouse. The 124-year-old baroque structure started undergoing "much-needed" repairs in 2013.

Renovations to the second floor should be done by this fall, and the third floor should be renovated in 2015. Kiefer said commissioners want to add more office space — 85 percent of available office space is currently occupied — and to increase event rentals — the ballroom was rented out 75 percent of available days.

Melcher, a military veteran, touched on Veteran's Services, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum and moving the county's war memorials to the Downtown Riverfront, which should happen sometime after Shrinersfest, he said.

Speaking after the presentation, Melcher said the biggest issue the county faces in 2014 is "not having the money to do things" because of tax caps and unfunded mandates from the Statehouse.